A26892:8461
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§. 45. Direct. 24. Consider that it is essential to Religion to be above the authority of man, (unless as1 they subserve the authority of God): He that worshippeth a God that is subject to any man, must subject his Religion to that man: (But this is no Religion because it is no God whom he worshippeth.) But if the God whom I serve be above all men, my Religion or service of him, must needs be also above the will of men.
- 1Direct. 24.
§. 46. Direct. 25. Consider that an obedient disposition towards Gods Laws, and a tender Conscience 1which feareth in the smallest matter to offend him, is a substantial part of Holiness, and of great necessity to salvation: It is part of the excellency of the soul; and therefore to be greatly encouraged by Governors: To drive this out of the World, is to drive out Godliness, and make men rebels against their maker: And nothing is more certain, than that the violent imposing of unnecessary disputable things in the worship of God, doth unavoidably tend either to debauch the Conscience, and drive men from their obedience to God, or to destroy them or undo them in the World: For it is not possible that all Conscionable persons should discern the lawfulness of all such disputable things.
§. 46. Direct. 25. Consider that an obedient disposition towards Gods Laws, and a tender Conscience 1which feareth in the smallest matter to offend him, is a substantial part of Holiness, and of great necessity to salvation: It is part of the excellency of the soul; and therefore to be greatly encouraged by Governours: To drive this out of the World, is to drive out Godliness, and make men rebells against their maker: And nothing is more certain, than that the violent imposing of unnecessary disputable things in the worship of God, doth unavoidably tend either to debauch the Conscience, and drive men from their obedience to God, or to destroy them or undoe them in the World: For it is not possible that all Conscionable persons should discern the lawfulness of all such disputable things.